Bihar top litchi producing state: Agri MinBihar top litchi producing state: Agri Min

Bihar has become a top state in the country to produce litchi, contributing 40 per cent of the total production, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh said on Monday.

According to the Agriculture Ministry data, about 300 metric tonnes of litchi is being produced in Bihar from 32,000 hectares of area.

"The main objective of the central government is focused on research to develop new varieties and techniques of litchi farming to increase its production and to share information with the extension division," Singh said while speaking at the inauguration and co-training of Litchi processing plant in Muzaffarpur district in Bihar.

"Contribution of Muzaffarpur district in litchi's production is impressive, but there is a need to increase the productivity of litchi, which is currently 8.0 tonne. For this, all the government institutions, cooperatives and farmers will have to come forward," the minister added.

Congratulating scientists at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and National Research Centre on Litchi, for its success in treating the fruit and preserving it for 60 days at low temperature, Singh said, "Our scientists are working day and night to develop advanced varieties and agricultural activities and that state government, KVKs and other institutions should take it to the masses. Through its limited resources, the centre has implemented ICAR's Farmers First project in East Champaran district."